The Hard Truth About Soft Skills College Success Foundation DC

Panel for Today

Kya N. Dixon, MSSenior Program Officer, College Programs

Kevin Mungin, MASenior Program Officer, HERO Program

Nicole E. Smith, MSEdSenior Program Officer, School Programs

College Success Foundation DC :Who Are We?

HERO Achievers College Programs

Who Are Our Students?

Families must be considered Pell

eligible to applyMostly first-generation college-

bound students96% qualify for free or reduced lunch99% African AmericanAverage GPA 2.6Many do not live with a biological

parentMany are significantly

underprepared for college level work

Environment

Culture and Background

Supportive People

Strengths Based

Approach Culture of Accountability via teamwork

Strictly the Numbers….You Say…

Average number of minutes per year a student receives for college counseling

Percentage of low income first gen students who graduate from college

Percentage of DC students who graduate from high school

Percentage of DC students who graduate from college

Percentage of students who undermatch

Percentage of male college graduates from Wards 7 & 8

Student Profile • Family: 1 of 6• 100% Pell Eligible • Parents never married• Incarcerated at age 14• Muslim• 2.7 GPA (no honors/2 AP classes)• 750/800 SAT • Interest: sports management• Participated in OUDC• Applied to Morehouse, Penn

State, University of Delaware, UCONN, Frostburg, UDC, Delaware State, Lincoln University (PA)

How would you advise this student?

Questions to Consider: • What is your overall feeling about this student? • What conversations/advice would you have concerning

the schools the student would like to

apply to?

• How would you advise the student in the following areas:

• Financial• Academic

• Social Emotional • Cultural• Racial

• What do you feel are the students strengths and areas of concern/weakness?

Snapshot of School Profiles

• Sedlacek 8 Areas• Duckworth Grit & Self - Discipline

• Bloom, Hutson & Ye

• Appreciative Advising

• Carl Rogers Humanistic Theory• William

Glasser Choice Theory

• William E. Cross

People of Color Identity Model • Theresa

LaFromboise• Cultural

Acquisition

• Sternberg Triarchic

Theory• GardnerMultiple

Intelliences • Reuven

Bar-On EQi• Donald O.

Clifton Strengths Finder

• Reisser & Chickering

Identity Development • TintoRetention Theory• PerryEthical & Intellectual Development

CounselingTheories

Non-Cogs/21st Century

Skills

CulturallySensitiveResearch

Intelligences Student Development

Theory

Foundational Research

Non-Cognitive Factors

21st Century Skills

Duckworth: Grit and Self-Discipline

Will Smith

Will Smith

The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things you got it on me in nine categories. But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple, right?

You're not going to out-work me. It's such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren't getting the places they want or aren't achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It's strictly based on being out-worked; it's strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready.

Counseling Theories: Appreciative Advising

Make a positive first impression with the student, build rapport, and create a safe, welcoming space.

Inquire about students' hopes and dreams for their futures.

The student delivers on the plan created during the Design phase and the adviser is available to encourage and support students.

Ask positive open-ended questions that help advisers learn about students' strengths, skills, and abilities.

Co-create a plan for making their dreams a reality.

Advisers and students alike need to set their own internal bars of expectations high

Counseling Theories: Carl Rogers

Humanistic Theory

Congruence

Empathy

Counselor

Respect

Counseling Theories: William Glasser

Culturally Sensitive Research

LaFromboise• Assimilation Model• Acculturation Model• Alternation Model• Multicultural Model• Fusion Model

“Melting Pot”

Cross• Pre-Encounter Stage • Encounter Stage • Immersion/Emersion

Stage • Internalization Stage• Internalization

Commitment Stage

Intelligences: SternbergTriarchic Theory

Creative

Practical

Analytical

• 3 types of intelligence• All people have all 3 to some

degree• Most people are stronger in

one type than the others• Intelligence is trainable• Intelligence is affected by and

related to culture

Intelligences: Gardner

Intelligences: Bar-On EQi

Intelligences: Clifton StrengthsFinder

Student Development Theories:Tinto

Retention Theory

Readvise

Questions to Consider: • What is your overall feeling about this student? • What conversations/advice would you have concerning

the schools the student would like to

apply to?

• How would you advise the student in the following areas:

• Financial• Academic

• Social Emotional • Cultural• Racial

• What do you feel are the students strengths and areas of concern/weakness?

CSF Good Math

• 83% of HERO participants receive the Achievers Scholarship

• 99% HS Graduation Rate• 85% of Achievers enroll in

college the first semester immediately after graduating from high school

• 28% College Graduation Rate compared to 3% in Wards 7 and 8

Be the Role Model

Be Naked.

Be Encouraging and Corrective.

Be the Cheerleader

Strictly the Numbers….Stats

Average number of minutes per year a student receives for college counseling

38Percentage of low income first gen students who graduate from college

11Percentage of DC students who graduate from high school 52

Percentage of DC students who graduate from college 9Percentage of students who undermatch 40Percentage of male college graduates from Wards 7 & 8 1

“ The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child;

it is whether we can afford NOT to.” ~ Marion Wright Edelman. Founder & President. Children’s Defense Fund

Kevin Mungin

kmungin@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Kya Dixon

kdixon@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Nicole E. Smith

nsmith@collegesuccessfoundation.org

Like us? Love us? Want more? Feel free to contact us: